New England Stuffies
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New England Stuffies are baked clams with a distinct regional flavor. Ritz crackers and Portuguese sausage set them apart. Find the full recipe with ingredient list, instructions, and air frying tips on this page.
Ingredients
- 12 littleneck clams, shucked and chopped (use 6 large quahog shells for serving, or use 12 littleneck shells)
- 1/2 cup Ritz cracker crumbs (about 12 crackers)
- 4 oz linguica or chourico sausage, diced small (or substitute chorizo)
- 1/4 cup celery, finely diced
- 2 tablespoons onion, finely diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- dash Tabasco
- pinch salt and pepper
Season it upThis variation is self-seasoned
Steps
- 01Cook the diced sausage in a skillet until browned and the fat renders, about 4 minutes. Add the celery, onion, and garlic. Cook 2 more minutes.
- 02Remove from heat. Mix in the Ritz crumbs, melted butter, parsley, Tabasco, salt, and pepper.
- 03Fold in the chopped clam meat.
- 04Pack the mixture into shells, mounding high.
- 05Ready for the air fryer on a foil-nest rack.
Stuffies are a Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts thing. The Ritz crackers instead of breadcrumbs and the Portuguese sausage are what make them different from every other baked clam. If you can't find linguica, any smoked pork sausage with some heat works. Don't substitute Italian sausage. It's a different flavor profile entirely.
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How to Air Fry It
- 01Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- 02Place frozen store-bought stuffed clams in a single layer in the air fryer basket, shell-side down.
- 03Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 12 minutes.
- 04Check that the breadcrumb topping is golden brown and crispy, adding 2-3 more minutes if needed.
- 05Carefully remove the hot shells using tongs and let cool slightly before serving.
Recipe Notes
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Season it up
Pairs well
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